tire type NISSAN LEAF 2016 1.G Owners Manual

The LEAF is an electric vehicle. Some of the
vehicle’s systems operate differently and have
different operating characteristics than vehicles
equipped with an internal combustion engine. It is
important to carefully review the entire Owner’s
Manual for this reason. The main difference is the
LEAF is powered by electricity. The LEAF does
not require and it is not capable of using gasoline
like a vehicle powered by a traditional internal
combustion engine. The LEAF uses electricity
stored in the lithium ion (Li-ion) battery. The vehi-
cle’s Li-ion battery must be charged with electric-
ity before the vehicle can be driven. As the vehicle
operates, the Li-ion battery gradually discharges.
If the Li-ion battery becomes completely dis-
charged, the vehicle will not operate until it is
re-charged.
This vehicle uses two types of batteries. One is
the 12-volt battery that is the same as the battery
in vehicles powered by gasoline engines, the
other is the Li-ion battery (high voltage) .
The 12-volt battery provides power to the vehicle
systems and features such as the audio system,
supplemental restraint systems, headlights and
windshield wipers.The Li-ion battery provides power to the electric
motor (traction motor) that moves the vehicle.
The Li-ion battery also charges the 12-volt bat-
tery.
The vehicle must be plugged in for the Li-ion
battery to be charged. Additionally, the vehicle
system can extend the vehicle range by convert-
ing driving force into electricity that is stored in
the Li-ion battery while the vehicle is decelerating
or being driven downhill. This is called regenera-
tive brake. This vehicle is considered to be an
environmentally friendly vehicle because it does
not emit exhaust gases, such as carbon dioxide
and nitrogen oxide.
WARNING
Your vehicle contains a sealed Li-ion high
voltage battery. If the Li-ion battery is
disposed of improperly, there is a risk of
severe burns and electrical shock that
may result in serious injury or death and
there is also a risk of environmental dam-
age.
CAUTION
To prevent damage to the Li-ion battery:
• Do not expose a vehicle to extreme ambient temperatures for extended
periods.
• Do not store a vehicle in temperatures below −13°F (−25°C) for more than
seven days.
• Do not leave your vehicle for more than 14 days where the Li-ion battery avail-
able charge gauge reaches a zero or
near zero (state of charge) .
• Do not use the Li-ion battery for any other purpose.
THE EV (ELECTRIC VEHICLE)
SYSTEM LI-ION BATTERY
EV-2EV Overview

INFANTS
Infants up to at least 1 year old should be placed
in a rear-facing child restraint. NISSAN recom-
mends that infants be placed in child restraints
that comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards or Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards. You should choose a child restraint
that fits your vehicle and always follow the manu-
facturer’s instructions for installation and use.
SMALL CHILDREN
Children that are over 1 year old and weigh at
least 20 lbs (9 kg) should remain in a rear-facing
child restraint as long as possible up to the height
or weight limit of the child restraint. Children who
outgrow the height or weight limit of the rear-
facing child restraint and are at least 1 year old
should be secured in a forward-facing child re-
straint with a harness. Refer to the manufactur-
er’s instructions for minimum and maximum
weight and height recommendations. NISSAN
recommends that small children be placed in
child restraints that comply with Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standards or Canadian Motor Ve-
hicle Safety Standards. You should choose a
child restraint that fits your vehicle and always
follow the manufacturer’s instructions for instal-
lation and use.
LARGER CHILDREN
Children should remain in a forward-facing child
restraint with a harness until they reach the maxi-
mum height or weight limit allowed by the child
restraint manufacturer.
Once a child outgrows the height or weight limit
of the harness-equipped forward-facing child re-
straint, NISSAN recommends that the child be
placed in a commercially available booster seat to
obtain proper seat belt fit. For a seat belt to fit
properly, the booster seat should raise the child
so that the shoulder belt is properly positioned
across the chest and the top, middle portion of
the shoulder. The shoulder belt should not cross
the neck or face and should not fall off the shoul-
der. The lap belt should lie snugly across the
lower hips or upper thighs, not the abdomen. A
booster seat can only be used in seating posi-
tions that have a three-point type seat belt. The
booster seat should fit the vehicle seat and have
a label certifying that it complies with Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety Standards or Canadian Mo-
tor Vehicle Safety Standards.A booster seat should be used until the child can
pass the seat belt fit test below:
• Are the child’s back and hips against the vehicle
seatback?
• Is the child able to sit without slouching?
• Do the child’s knees bend easily over the front edge of the seat with feet flat on the floor?
• Can the child safely wear the seat belt (lap belt low and snug across the hips and shoulder belt
across mid-chest and shoulder)?
• Is the child able to use the properly adjusted head restraint/headrest?
• Will the child be able to stay in position for the entire ride?
Safety–Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-17

• Since the spare tire is not equippedwith the TPMS, when a wheel is re-
placed, the TPMS will not function and
the low tire pressure warning light will
flash for approximately 1 minute. The
light will remain on after 1 minute.
Contact a NISSAN certified LEAF
dealer as soon as possible for tire re-
placement and/or system resetting.
• Replacing tires with those not origi- nally specified by NISSAN could affect
the proper operation of the TPMS.
CAUTION
• The TPMS is not a substitute for the regular tire pressure check. Be sure to
check the tire pressure regularly.
• If the vehicle is being driven at speeds of less than 16 mph (25 km/h) , the
TPMS may not operate correctly.
• Be sure to install the specified size of tires to the four wheels correctly.
Master warning light
(red/yellow)
There are two types of master warning lights:
yellow and red. These lights illuminate if any
warning lights or indicator lights are illuminated or if various vehicle information warnings appear in
the vehicle information display.
Yellow master warning light
The yellow master warning light is located on the
upper display.
This light illuminates when a yellow warning light on
the lower display is illuminated or when a message
is displayed on the vehicle information display.
Red master warning light
The red master warning light is located on the
upper display.
This light illuminates when a red warning light on
the lower display is illuminated or when a warning
is displayed on the vehicle information display.
Power steering warning light
When the power switch is in the ON position, the
electric power steering warning light illuminates
and turns off when the power switch is placed in
the READY to drive position. This indicates the
electric power steering system is operational.
If the electric power steering warning light illumi-
nates while the READY to drive indicator light is
ON, it may indicate the electric power steering
system is not functioning properly and may needservicing. Have the electric power steering sys-
tem checked by a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer.
When the electric power steering warning light
illuminates while the READY to drive indicator is
ON, the power assist to the steering will cease
operation but you will still have control of the
vehicle. At this time, greater steering efforts are
required to operate the steering wheel, especially
in sharp turns and at low speeds.
For additional information, refer to “Power steer-
ing system” in the “Starting and driving” section
of this manual.
Seat belt warning light
The light and chime remind you to fasten seat
belts. The light illuminates whenever the power
switch is placed in the ON position, and will
remain illuminated until the driver’s seat belt is
fastened. At the same time, the chime will sound
for approximately 6 seconds unless the driver’s
seat belt is securely fastened.
The seat belt warning light for the front passenger
will illuminate if the seat belt is not fastened when
the front passenger’s seat is occupied. The front
passenger seat belt warning light does not acti-
vate until 5 seconds after the power switch is in
the ON position.
2-18Instruments and controls

ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM
(ABS)
WARNING
• The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) is a sophisticated device, but it cannot
prevent accidents resulting from care-
less or dangerous driving techniques.
It can help maintain vehicle control
during braking on slippery surfaces.
Remember that stopping distances on
slippery surfaces will be longer than
on normal surfaces even with ABS.
Stopping distances may also be longer
on rough, gravel or snow covered
roads, or if you are using tire chains.
Always maintain a safe distance from
the vehicle in front of you. Ultimately,
the driver is responsible for safety.
• Tire type and condition may also affect braking effectiveness.
– When replacing tires, install thespecified size of tires on all four
wheels.
– For additional information, refer to “Wheels and tires” in the “Mainte-
nance and do-it-yourself” section of
this manual.
The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) controls the
brakes so the wheels do not lock during hard brak-
ing or when braking on slippery surfaces. The sys-
tem detects the rotation speed at each wheel and
varies the brake fluid pressure to prevent each
wheel from locking and sliding. By preventing each
wheel from locking, the system helps the driver
maintain steering control and helps to minimize
swerving and spinning on slippery surfaces.
Using the system
Depress the brake pedal and hold it down. De-
press the brake pedal with firm steady pressure,
but do not pump the brakes. The ABS will oper-
ate to prevent the wheels from locking up. Steer
the vehicle to avoid obstacles.
WARNING
Do not pump the brake pedal. Doing so
may result in increased stopping dis-
tances.
Self-test feature
The ABS includes electronic sensors, electric
pumps, hydraulic solenoids and a computer. The
computer has a built-in diagnostic feature that
tests the system each time you push the power
switch in the READY to drive position and move the vehicle at a low speed in forward or reverse.
When the self-test occurs, you may hear a
“clunk” noise and/or feel a pulsation in the brake
pedal. This is normal and does not indicate a
malfunction. If the computer senses a malfunc-
tion, it switches the ABS off and illuminates the
ABS warning light on the instrument panel. The
brake system then operates normally, but without
anti-lock assistance.
If the ABS warning light illuminates during the
self-test or while driving, have the vehicle
checked by a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer.
Normal operation
The ABS operates at speeds above 3 to 6 mph (5
to 10 km/h) . The speed varies according to road
conditions.
When the ABS senses that one or more wheels are
close to locking up, the actuator rapidly applies and
releases hydraulic pressure. This action is similar to
pumping the brakes very quickly. You may feel a
pulsation in the brake pedal and hear a noise from
under the hood or feel a vibration from the actuator
when it is operating. This is normal and indicates
that the ABS is operating properly. However, the
pulsation may indicate that road conditions are
hazardous and extra care is required while driving.
5-22Starting and driving

• Do not modify the vehicle’s suspen-sion. If suspension parts such as shock
absorbers, struts, springs, stabilizer
bars, bushings and wheels are not
NISSAN recommended for your ve-
hicle or are extremely deteriorated the
VDC system may not operate properly.
This could adversely affect vehicle
handling performance, and the
warning may flash ormay
illuminate.
• If brake related parts such as brake
pads, rotors and calipers are not
NISSAN recommended or are ex-
tremely deteriorated, the VDC system
may not operate properly and
may
illuminate.
• If traction motor control related parts
are not NISSAN recommended or are
extremely deteriorated, the
may
illuminate.
• When driving on extremely inclined
surfaces such as higher banked cor-
ners, the VDC system may not operate
properly and the
warning may illu-
minate. Do not drive on these types of
roads. • When driving on an unstable surface
such as a turntable, ferry, elevator or
ramp, the
warning may illuminate.
This is not a malfunction. Restart the
EV (Electric Vehicle) system after driv-
ing onto a stable surface.
• If wheels or tires other than the
NISSAN recommended ones are used,
the VDC system may not operate prop-
erly and the
warning may illumi-
nate.
• The VDC system is not a substitute for
winter tires or tire chains on a snow
covered road.
WARNING
• Never rely solely on the hill start assist system to prevent the vehicle from
moving backward on a hill. Always
drive carefully and attentively. Depress
the brake pedal when the vehicle is
stopped on a steep hill. Be especially
careful when stopped on a hill on fro-
zen or muddy roads. Failure to prevent
the vehicle from rolling backwards
may result in a loss of control of the
vehicle and possible serious injury or
death.
• The hill start assist system is not de- signed to hold the vehicle at a stand-
still on a hill. Depress the brake pedal
when the vehicle is stopped on a steep
hill. Failure to do so may cause the
vehicle to roll backwards and may re-
sult in a collision or serious personal
injury.
• The hill start assist may not prevent the vehicle from rolling backwards on a
hill under all load or road conditions.
Always be prepared to depress the
brake pedal to prevent the vehicle
from rolling backwards. Failure to do
so may result in a collision or serious
personal injury.
HILL START ASSIST SYSTEM
5-24Starting and driving

FREEING A FROZEN DOOR LOCK
To prevent a door lock from freezing, apply deicer
through the key hole. If the lock becomes frozen,
heat the key before inserting it into the key hole or
use the remote keyless entry key fob.
ANTIFREEZE
In the winter when it is possible that the outside
temperature will drop below 32°F (0°C) , check
the antifreeze to ensure proper winter protection.
For additional information, refer to “Cooling sys-
tem” in the “Maintenance and do-it-yourself” sec-
tion of this manual.
12-VOLT BATTERY
If the 12-volt battery is not fully charged during
extremely cold weather conditions, the 12-volt
battery fluid may freeze and damage the 12-volt
battery. To maintain maximum efficiency, the 12-
volt battery should be checked regularly. For ad-
ditional information, refer to “12-volt battery” in
the “Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section of
this manual.
DRAINING OF COOLANT WATER
If the vehicle is to be left outside without anti-
freeze, drain the cooling system. Refill beforeoperating the vehicle. For additional information,
refer to “Cooling system” in the “Maintenance
and do-it-yourself” section of this manual.
TIRE EQUIPMENT
SUMMER tires have a tread designed to provide
superior performance on dry pavement. How-
ever, the performance of these tires will be sub-
stantially reduced in snowy and icy conditions. If
you operate your vehicle on snowy or icy roads,
NISSAN recommends the use of MUD & SNOW
or ALL SEASON tires on all four wheels. Consult
a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer for the tire type,
size, speed rating and availability information.
For additional traction on icy roads, studded tires
may be used. However, some U.S. states and
Canadian provinces prohibit their use. Check
local, state and provincial laws before installing
studded tires.
Skid and traction capabilities of studded
snow tires, on wet or dry surfaces, may be
poorer than that of non-studded snow tires.
Tire chains may be used. For additional informa-
tion, refer to “Tire chains” in the “Maintenance
and do-it-yourself” section of this manual.
SPECIAL WINTER EQUIPMENT
It is recommended that the following items be
carried in the vehicle during winter:
• A scraper and stiff-bristled brush to remove ice
and snow from the windows and wiper blades.
• A shovel to dig the vehicle out of snow-drifts.
• Extra windshield-washer fluid to refill the reser- voir tank.
DRIVING ON SNOW OR ICE
WARNING
• Wet ice (32°F, 0°C and freezing rain) , very cold snow or ice can be slick and
very hard to drive on. The vehicle will
have much less traction or “grip” under
these conditions. Try to avoid driving
on wet ice until the road is salted or
sanded.
• Whatever the conditions, drive with caution. Accelerate and slow down
with care. If accelerating too fast, the
drive wheels will lose even more trac-
tion.
• Allow more stopping distance under these conditions. Braking should be
started sooner than on dry pavement.
5-26Starting and driving

8 Maintenance and do-it yourself
Maintenance requirement................. .8-2
Scheduled maintenance ................ .8-2
General maintenance .................. .8-2
Where to go for service ................ .8-2
General maintenance .................... .8-2
Explanation of maintenance items ...........8-2
Maintenance precautions ................. .8-5
Motor compartment check locations ............8-7
Cooling system ....................... .8-8
Checking coolant level ................. .8-9
Changing coolant .................... .8-9
Reduction gear fluid .................... .8-10
Brake fluid ......................... .8-10
Windshield-washer fluid ................. .8-11
12-volt battery ....................... .8-12
Jump starting ...................... .8-13
Windshield wiper blades ................. .8-13
Cleaning ........................ .8-13
Replacing ........................ .8-14Rear window wiper blade
...............8-16
Brakes ........................... .8-16
Brake pad wear warning ................8-16
Fuses ............................ .8-17
Motor compartment .................. .8-17
Passenger compartment ................8-19
Nissan Intelligent Key® battery replacement ......8-20
Lights ............................ .8-22
Headlights ....................... .8-23
Exterior and interior lights ...............8-24
Wheels and tires ..................... .8-27
Tire pressure ...................... .8-27
Tire labeling ...................... .8-30
Types of tires ...................... .8-33
Tire chains .......................
.8-34
Changing

wheels and tires .............. .8-34
Emergency tire puncture repair kit ..........8-37

2TIN (Tire Identification Number) for a
new tire (example: DOT XX XX XXX
XXXX)
1. DOT: Abbreviation for the “Depart- ment of Transportation”. The symbol
can be placed above, below or to the
left or right of the Tire Identification
Number.
2. Two-digit code: Manufacturer’s identi- fication mark
3. Two-digit code: Tire size 4. Three-digit code: Tire type code
(Optional)
5. Four numbers represent the week and year the tire was built. For example, the
numbers 3103 means the 31st week
of 2003. If these numbers are missing,
then look on the other sidewall of the
tire.
3Tire ply composition and material
The number of layers or plies of
rubber-coated fabric in the tire.
Tire manufacturers also must indicate the materials in the tire, which include
steel, nylon, polyester, and others.
4Maximum permissible inflation pres-
sure
This number is the greatest amount of
air pressure that should be put in the
tire. Do not exceed the maximum per-
missible inflation pressure.
5Maximum load rating
This number indicates the maximum
load in kilograms and pounds that can
be carried by the tire. When replacing
the tires on the vehicle, always use a
tire that has the same load rating as the
factory installed tire.
6Term of “tubeless” or “tube type”
Indicates whether the tire requires an
inner tube (“tube type”) or not (“tube-
less”) .
7The word “radial”
The word “radial” is shown, if the tire
has radial structure.
8Manufacturer or brand name
Manufacturer or brand name is shown.
Example
8-32Maintenance and do-it yourself

Other tire-related terminology:
In addition to the many terms that are
defined throughout this section, Intended
Outboard Sidewall is (1) the sidewall that
contains a whitewall, bears white lettering
or bears manufacturer, brand and/or
model name molding that is higher or
deeper than the same molding on the
other sidewall of the tire, or (2) the out-
ward facing sidewall of an asymmetrical
tire that has a particular side that must
always face outward when mounted on a
vehicle.
TYPES OF TIRES
WARNING
• When changing or replacing tires, be sure all four tires are of the same type
(Example: Summer, All Season or
Snow) and construction. A NISSAN
certified LEAF dealer may be able to
help you with information about tire
type, size, speed rating and availabil-
ity. • Replacement tires may have a lower
speed rating than the factory equipped
tires, and may not match the potential
maximum vehicle speed. Never exceed
the maximum speed rating of the tire.
• Replacing tires with those not origi- nally specified by NISSAN could affect
the proper operation of the TPMS.
• For additional information regarding tires, refer to “Important Tire Safety
Information” (US) or “Tire Safety Infor-
mation” (Canada) in the Warranty In-
formation Booklet.
All season tires
NISSAN specifies all season tires on some mod-
els to provide good performance all year, includ-
ing snowy and icy road conditions. All Season
tires are identified by ALL SEASON and/or M&S
(Mud and Snow) on the tire sidewall. Snow tires
have better snow traction than All Season tires
and may be more appropriate in some areas.
Summer tires
NISSAN specifies summer tires on some models
to provide superior performance on dry roads.
Summer tire performance is substantially re-
duced in snow and ice. Summer tires do not have
the tire traction rating M&S on the tire sidewall. If you plan to operate your vehicle in snowy or icy
conditions, NISSAN recommends the use of
SNOW tires or ALL SEASON tires on all four
wheels.
Snow tires
If snow tires are needed, it is necessary to select
tires equivalent in size and load rating to the
original equipment tires. If you do not, it can
adversely affect the safety and handling of your
vehicle.
Generally, snow tires will have lower speed rat-
ings than factory equipped tires and may not
match the potential maximum vehicle speed.
Never exceed the maximum speed rating of the
tire.
If you install snow tires, they must be the same
size, brand, construction and tread pattern on all
four wheels.
For additional traction on icy roads, studded tires
may be used. However, some U.S. states and
Canadian provinces prohibit their use. Check
local, state and provincial laws before installing
studded tires. Skid and traction capabilities of
studded snow tires, on wet or dry surfaces, may
be poorer than that of non-studded snow tires.
Maintenance and do-it yourself8-33

TIRE CHAINS
Use of tire chains may be prohibited according to
location. Check the local laws before installing
tire chains. When installing tire chains, make sure
they are the proper size for the tires on your
vehicle and are installed according to the chain
manufacturer’s suggestions.
Use only SAE Class S chains.Class “S”
chains are used on vehicles with restricted tire to
vehicle clearance. Vehicles that can use Class
“S” chains are designed to meet the SAE stan-
dard minimum clearances between the tire and
the closest vehicle suspension or body compo-
nent required to accommodate the use of a win-
ter traction device (tire chains or cables) . The
minimum clearances are determined using the
factory equipped tire size. Other types may dam-
age your vehicle.
Use chain tensioners when recommended by the
tire chain manufacturer to ensure a tight fit. Loose
end links of the tire chain must be secured or
removed to prevent the possibility of whipping
action damage to the fenders or underbody. If
possible, avoid fully loading your vehicle when
using tire chains. In addition, drive at a reduced
speed. Otherwise, your vehicle may be damaged and/or vehicle handling and performance may be
adversely affected.
Tire chains must be installed only on the
front wheels and not on the rear wheels.
Do not use tire chains on dry roads. Driving with
tire chains in such conditions can cause damage
to the various mechanisms of the vehicle due to
some overstress.
CHANGING WHEELS AND TIRES
Tire rotation
NISSAN recommends rotating the tires
every 5,000 miles (8,000 km) .
As soon as possible, tighten the
wheel nuts to the specified torque
using a torque wrench.
Wheel nut tightening torque:83 ft-lb (112 N·m)
8-34Maintenance and do-it yourself